Ghani Khan makes Congress, CPM blush

CALCUTTA, JUNE 28: Close on the heels of 8220;a pro-CPIM statement8221; by Congress Legislature Party leader Atish Sinha, West Bengal Congress president ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury has put both his partymen and the state CPIM leadership into extreme embarrassment. Ghani Khan, addressing a two-day district party conference in Burdwan district yesterday, reportedly told the gathering that 8220;the state Congress is willing to come to an understanding with the CPIM to defeat the Trinamool Congress and its communal ally, the BJP, in the coming Lok Sabha elections.8221;

Khan8217;s statement has not only embarrassed his own party but also, the CPIM, which has been criticised by the Left Front partners the Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party for its efforts to promote a pro-Congress8217; line within the front. Reacting to the statement, CM Jyoti Basu denied any possibility of an understanding with the Congress, which he termed as 8220;enemy party and thus has to be fought in the coming elections.8221;